Bellatrix's POV

The blood roared in her ears. She had never been this excited. Never in her life. This was finally the day that she would take down Harry Potter, once and for all. He had bested the Dark Lord, and she would finish him. He would die a slow and painful death, she was sure of it.

A bridge was stretched out in front of her, repaired since the war. The students, including Potter and his wannabe friends, would be in classes now.

Bellatrix laughed. They had no idea what was coming. And when it did, there would be nothing to stop it. He was practically already dead.

Her wand slid out of her sleeve and into her hand within a moment's time. She didn't have an army. But that didn't worry her. Nothing could stop her now. She'd knock down anyone or anything that got in her way. Potter deserved to pay for the pain he'd caused her.

His deathday was here.

Why be secretive? She thought. That never works anyway.

So with a smirk growing bigger and bigger each step, she began her walk to victory, to glory among Death Eaters. No one would fear her ever again. Not after this.

***

Hermione's POV

Sitting in Transfiguration, Hermione had her mind on two things: Draco, and a way to defeat Bellatrix.

First, Draco. Not only did she want to mend things between them, apologize for her mistake, but he was the key to winning. He needed to help her. Well, Harry and the others, too. But now that she'd spilled her big mouth, he wasn't ever going to help, much less forgive her.

She continued writing down her notes, about something she couldn't really remember.

It was then that it hit her, causing her to fall back on her chair.

It was Bellatrix. She was walking - no, gliding - towards Hogwarts, on the bridge. No one was behind her. Her face was twisted with scorn, a deadly smirk plastered on her lips.

Words floated above the image.

Nothing can help you now.

Harry Potter will fall to Bellatrix Lestrange.

And anyone who dares to save him.

Hermione jerked. The class was staring at her, some bewildered, others rolled their eyes.

As for Professor McGonagall, her eyes were full of concern. "Ms. Granger, is something wrong?"

"Yes," she gasped, suddenly out of breath from her recent blackout. "We need to prepare."

"For what?" Her voice was soft, yet firm.

"War."

Hermione packed her books and hurried out of the doorway. She whirled around and said, "Don't wait too long. You'll be dead before you know it."

Not waiting for a response to her warnings, she sprinted to the dormitory. If Draco was there, she needed to tell him, she needed to fix things.

It was the only way.

***

Bellatrix's POV

Only steps now.

Only a few easy steps and she would find him. Tear down the whole blasted school again, if she had to. This had to be done. She had to kill Harry Potter.

"Bella."

It was a familiar voice, but it took her a minute to place it. How much it had changed. From strong and powerful to soft and weak.

"Lucius," she drawled, "I'm so glad you could make it."

His expression hardened. "Any chance I have to kill that mudblood, I'll take it."

She cackled. "Right. Then she'll be out of the way. And that Weasley boy won't be a problem, his brother didn't last a chance, and his sister would've died if her damn mummy hadn't come to save the day."

Her brother-in-law's voice became mocking. "Are you sure you can complete the job, Bellatrix?"

"Yes, I'm sure," she snapped, "otherwise I wouldn't be here, I wouldn't be alive."

He fell silent, and fell in step beside her. "I've got some more Death Eaters rounded up," he said, in a tone that suggested they were discussing only politics.

"We won't need all of them," she replied stiffly.

"We might." He stared ahead and didn't speak for the rest of the walk.

When they reached the doors, they were wide open due to the warm weather. They strolled right in, and Bellatrix was surprised to see that no one was in the hallways. It seemed as if, though it was impossible, that the school had been abandoned.

"Look for your prize, and I'll look for mine," Lucius said, setting off towards the dormitories.

Bellatrix practically flounced to the Great Hall. This was going to be simple.

The doors were open, and the tables were empty. She stepped in, laughing.

"Well, I guess Harry Potter expected my visit."

She turned and went to search for the hiding students. But she didn't even make it out of there.

"Looking for us?"

There she was. The mudblood, Granger, and her pet, Weasley.

With Potter right behind them.

Students flooded out from behind the doors of the Hall and circled her.

She was surrounded.

By a bunch of amateurs.